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Attendance: 20,566
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Premier League
Apr 22, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
Stoke logo

2-0

Llorente (10'), Carroll (70')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Swansea City 2-0 Stoke City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text commentary of Swansea City's Premier League 2-0 win over Stoke City at the Liberty Stadium.
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Swansea City have claimed a 2-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday which keeps them in the hunt for Premier League survival.

Fernando Llorente opened the scoring with his 10th-minute header, while Tom Carroll doubled his side's lead 70 minutes in with a ferocious long-range effort which took a heavy deflection off Joe Allen to beat Jack Butland.

Just one minute before Carroll's goal, Marko Arnautovic spurned the chance to draw the Potters level when he skied his penalty over Lukasz Fabianski's bar.

Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at the Liberty Stadium.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Swansea City and Stoke City.

Time is running out for the Swans to preserve their top-flight status, with just five games left for them between now and the end of the season.

Paul Clement's struggling charges currently sit 18th in the table on 28 points, two points behind 17th-placed Hull City and four points ahead of Middlesbrough, who have a game in hand on the Swans.

With fixtures against Manchester United and Everton coming up, Swansea must make the most of games such as today's, with Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion also completing the run-in.

Without further ado, let's have a look at the team news from the Liberty Stadium.

SWANSEA STARTING XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Kingsley, Mawson, Fernandez, Fer, Britton, Carroll, Ayew, Llorente, Sigurdsson

STOKE STARTING XI: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Shaqiri, Allen, Cameron, Arnautovic, Berahino, Crouch

SWANSEA SUBS: Ki, van der Hoorn, Borja, Nordfeldt, Montero, Narsingh, Roberts

STOKE SUBS: Bardsley, Muniesa, Whelan, Adam, Diouf, Sobhi, Grant

Paul Clement has made four changes to his starting XI from their 1-0 defeat at Watford last weekend.

Martin Olsson and Jay Fulton drop out of the squad altogether, while Ki Sung-yueng and Luciano Narsingh are among the substitutes. In their places come Leon Britton, who hasn't played since New Year's Eve prior to today, plus Stephen Kingsley, Tom Carroll and Jordan Ayew.

Mark Hughes, meanwhile, has made three changes from the 3-1 win over Hull City last time out. The big news is Jack Butland starts in goal after 13 months out of action, with Lee Grant dropping to the bench. The two other Stoke swaps see Joe Allen replace Charlie Adam in midfield, while Marc Muniesa drops to the bench in place of Peter Crouch.

There will be a lot of focus on two frontmen today. Fernando Llorente has been troubled by ankle and leg injuries in recent weeks but leads the Swans line, while Saido Berahino continues to search for his first Stoke goal since his winter switch from West Bromwich Albion.

Speaking of Llorente, Clement told reporters: "Fernando has come off the back of some good performances where he's really made the difference. But then he's picked up his injury which led to another injury and a frustrating time. He wasn't 100 percent at Watford. He said after the game he didn't feel at his best, and that's obviously had an impact on the way he played. He does need to be fitter, but then the question is a bit like the dilemma we had at West Ham."

Berahino, meanwhile, has started the club's last six league matches, but he is still searching for his first goal in 10 games and was subbed off after 58 minutes in last weekend's win against over Hull, but Hughes is optimistic that his player will soon break his duck.

The Welshman said: "I think everybody can see that he is getting stronger. He needs a goal. That is what all strikers need just to settle into a club and he has been close in recent weeks. It is only a matter of time. Maybe people thought he deserved a few more minutes because he was getting close but those are the decisions I, as a manager, have to take. But, as we have seen, Saido is getting closer to the level we know he is capable of and he'll score goals before the end of the season. We are convinced of that."

While Swansea are fighting for their top-flight lives, Stoke put immediate relegation worries to bed months ago, and are now safely nestled in mid-table. Well, I say safely, there is an 11-point gap between themselves and the Swans, with 15 to play for, but barring a major collapse, the Potters are looking upwards rather than downwards as they bid to break into the top ten, with Southampton and Watford just a point above them (although they have games in hand over Stoke).

A nice gesture from Southampton winger Nathan Redmond, a former teammate of Jack Butland's at Birmingham City, welcoming the goalkeeper's return from injury.



HEAD TO HEAD: Swansea have won just one of their last seven Premier League contests with Stoke, drawing three and losing three.

Stoke are looking to win consecutive away league games at Swansea for the first time - their win in October 2015 was their first in six away fixtures against the Swans.

Between them, Swansea and Stoke have won just one league game in their last 12, losing nine and drawing two.

Swansea have conceded 68 goals after 33 games - no team has ever avoided relegation from the Premier League having let in as many at this stage.

The Potters haven't scored an away goal since a 3-1 win at Sunderland on January 14, and could fail to score in six consecutive top-flight away matches for the first time since April 1985.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who starts for Swansea today, has provided more assists from set plays this season than any other Premier League player (6) and has also created the most chances from set-pieces (44).

Meanwhile Marko Arnautovic, also involved from the start, has been directly involved in 10 Premier League goals this term (6 goals, 4 assists) - the most of any Stoke player.

PREDICTION: Ten minutes to go until kickoff so it's time for me to put my metaphorical money where my mouth is and predict the score. We're talking two out-of-form sides with just one win from their last 12 games combined (and Stoke weren't as impressive against Hull as the 3-1 scoreline suggests). Stoke are stronger on paper but they have less to play for, so I reckon they'll cancel each other out and it'll end either 1-1 or 0-0.

The players have finished their pre-match warm-ups and are back in their respective dressing rooms for the final team talk ahead of kickoff.

Here they come! Leon Britton and Ryan Shawcross lead their respective teams out of the tunnel and onto the pitch at the Liberty Stadium.

KICKOFF! Michael Oliver is today's referee - he gets the game underway as Stoke kick off.

Swansea are playing in all-white, Stoke in their light blue away kit.

CHANCE! Swansea are first to get a sniff of goal as the ball is fed to Sigurdsson twice in the Stoke box but he fails to convert either chance, seeing his first effort charged down and firing wide with the second.

Now Stoke push forward as they launch the ball over the top for Crouch, but Swansea manage to clear their lines.

Now Swansea come at Stoke again as Pieters miscues his clearance and Sigurdsson ends up receiving the ball in the area once more, but his effort rebounds off him and out for a goal kick.

Stoke come forward again, with Crouch the intended target once again, but Fabianski plucks the ball out of the air.

GOAL! SWANSEA 1-0 STOKE (FERNANDO LLORENTE)

The deadlock is broken at the Liberty Stadium and it comes courtesy of Llorente! Moments after the hosts saw a penalty shout turned down after Shawcross seemingly handballed in the box, the Spaniard rises above the Stoke defence and planted Sigurdsson's corner kick into the net! Bullet header, Llorente's 12th of the season, and the strugglers lead!

Berahino hacks down Llorente in midfield for a Swansea free kick, Sigurdsson floats the ball to the back post, Butland spills it but referee Oliver brings back play for Fer's foul on the keeper.

We have a stoppage in play as Fer looks to have come off second best in that aerial challenge, but he seems alright to carry on.

Shaqiri is given the chance to run at the Swansea defence and he chips the ball over the top for Berahino and Johnson to chase, but Fabianski is on hand to make a catch.

SUBSTITUTION: Having initially returned to the action, Fer cannot continue after his earlier collision with Butland, making way for Ki.

Swansea threaten again through Ayew, who reaches the byline before delivering a dangerous cross into the box, but Johnson is on hand to cushion the ball back to Butland.

Ki races clear down the right before being hacked down by Pieters for a Swansea free kick, which Sigurdsson delivers into the box but it's dealt with as Llorente lurked.

End-to-end stuff here as Johnson marauds down the right and curls a cross towards the far post for Crouch, but Mawson heads clear before the 6'7" marksman can get to the ball.

It's proving a baptism of fire for the returning Butland, who very nearly gets caught out by Ayew as he dwells on the ball ahead of making a clearance, having to take a few touches before slicing the ball away from danger.

Half-hour mark in the game and it's very much advantage Swansea as Sigurdsson continues to wreak havoc from set pieces, whipping another corner kick right under the Stoke crossbar, but Butland manages to hang onto the ball at the second time of asking.

CHANCE! Johnson crosses into the box and Berahino is unmarked but he makes a hash of the chance, heading well wide of target. The ex-Baggie's wait for his first Stoke goal continues...

Swansea's high-pressing game is suffocating Stoke, who are forced to play all the way back to Butland before just about managing to get out of trouble with four attackers bearing down on the visitors' defence.

Naughton manages to slip the ball through the Stoke defence to Ki, but the latter's attempted return pass is overhit and trickles out for a goal kick.

Arnautovic wins Stoke a corner and whips the set piece into the box, but Swansea half-clear before the return into the area is smothered by Fabianski.

Stoke have done very little going forward in this first half but are just about starting to push up into the opposition's final third, with Johnson charging down the right-hand side but playing a ball that's just behind Arnautovic.

Shaqiri tries a shot from distance but it flies high and wide of the left-hand post.

The official has signalled for two minutes of stoppage time to be played.

HALF TIME: SWANSEA 1-0 STOKE

There was a flurry of activity right on the stroke of half time, with Ayew and Berahino weighing in with dangerous chances and Swansea's Carroll picking up a yellow card for a shirt tug on Allen, but as it stands, it's advantage to the hosts, who lead 1-0.

So far so good for Paul Clement and co, who are ahead after Fernando Llorente headed home from Gylfi Sigurdsson's corner just 10 minutes in. The Swans continued to push forward and had several more chances to add to their tally, with particular focus on the first-half stoppage time effort from Jordan Ayew, who was clean through on goal and fired through Jack Butland's legs but also wide of goal.

There was certainly some suspect defending from Stoke in the build-up to the Spaniard's goal, and the visitors looked lethargic for most of the first half, with the exception of a couple of forays which saw Saido Berahino well poised to get his first Potters goal, but so far he has failed to deliver.

It's far from settled, of course, and Swansea will need to be at their best in the second half as Stoke will undoubtedly have regrouped in a bid to get back into the game, but Clement will certainly be happy with his side, who are currently out of the Premier League's bottom three as things stand.

HALF-TIME STATS: Swansea have enjoyed 54 percent possession, three shots (two on target), and won two corners, while Stoke have had 46 percent possession, four shots (one on target), and won just one corner.

KICKOFF: Swansea get the second half underway and they immediately push forward as Arnautovic is forced to hack a cross behind for corner.

Sigurdsson (who else?) whips the set piece towards Ki at the far post, but he's quite far out and his header is easily caught by Butland.

Crouch edges into space and has a go from outside the box here but it's tame and trickles into Fabianski's arms.

Now here come Swansea on the attack again as Allen turns the ball out for another corner but Crouch is on hand to head clear from Sigurdsson's near-post delivery.

Pieters whips in a cross from the left but it takes a huge deflection and it's easy for Fabianski to gather at the near post.

Stoke push forward as Cameron sprays the ball wide to Johnson, who in turn whips a first-time cross into the box, but Fabianski sees it coming and rushes from his line to claim.

Now Crouch has a go as a loose ball bounces into his path but his ambitious first-time volley is comfortably saved by the Swansea keeper.

PENALTY SHOUT! Ayew is bodychecked by Pieters after the Swansea man broke into the Stoke box, but nothing is given despite some calls for a penalty.

SUBSTITUTION: Second change of the afternoon for Swansea as Fernando Llorente makes way for Mike van der Hoorn.

BOOKING: Naughton hacks Arnautovic down in midfield - it's a very late challenge which leaves the Austrian needing treatment, while the Swansea man is shown a yellow for his troubles.

BOOKING: Now Stoke see yellow as Martins Indi crunches into Ayew.

CHANCE! Lucky, lucky Stoke! The resulting free kick should be a routine stop for Butland but he flaps at it and the ball falls to Ki, who tries to volley towards goal but sees his effort blocked!

PENALTY! Stoke are awarded a spot kick after Shaqiri breaks into the box following a one-two with Arnautovic and is bundled to the ground by Mawson!

PENALTY MISS! Arnautovic steps up and, from 12 yards out, blazes the penalty over the crossbar! Poor effort.

GOAL! SWANSEA 2-0 STOKE (TOM CARROLL)

Swansea had been bracing themselves to be pegged back after giving away a penalty but they're now two up against Stoke, who really must be cursing their luck! From the goal kick, the hosts surge forward and Carroll tries his luck from 30 yards, the effort takes a deflection off Allen and loops over Butland into the net!

CHANCE! Carroll nearly gets his second in as many minutes, but his long-range effort is thwarted by an acrobatic Butland save, the returning keeper leaping and getting his fingertips to the ball!

CHANCE! Butland again! It's taken him a while to get into the groove but he's up and running now as he expertly denies Ayew with a near-post save!

Martins Indi is lucky to escape a second yellow after bundling Ki to ground off the ball.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the day for Stoke as Saido Berahino makes way for Ramadan Sobhi.

CHANCE! Stoke make a mess of a clearance and the ball drops to Ki in the box, but his first-time effort soars over the bar.

Arnautovic is flagged offside and, in frustration, fires a shot towards goal, but as with his earlier penalty, it ends up sailing into the stands.

SUBSTITUTION: Second change for Stoke as Marko Arnautovic's shift comes to an end, Mame Biram Diouf replacing him.

SUBSTITUTION: And here's the final change for Swansea as Leon Britton makes way for Borja Baston.

CHANCE! Cameron goes on a solo run and manages to win a corner, which falls to Allen, who sets up Martins Indi, but the latter's first-time attempt sails over the bar.

BOOKING! Frustration is getting the better of the Stoke players as Crouch sees yellow for lashing out at Van der Hoorn, with four minutes of added time to be played.

FULL TIME: SWANSEA 2-0 STOKE

Michael Oliver blows the full-time whistle at the Liberty Stadium and Swansea City have put in a gutsy performance to claim a 2-0 win over Stoke City which gives their hopes of Premier League survival a huge boost.

Fernando Llorente and Tom Carroll were the heroes for Paul Clement's side with a goal apiece in either half, and Gylfi Sigurdsson was once again immense from set pieces, while the Potters were not at the races and must be left wondering what might have been after Marko Arnautovic's missed penalty.

That's all we have time for here but Sports Mole will be on hand to bring you match reports, reaction and the latest news from the day's football. Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye!

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Joe Allen in action for Stoke City on August 20, 2016
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